Comparative Lipoidal Matter Investigation of three Abutilon Species Aerial Parts

Objectives: In the present study, a comparative evaluation of the lipoidal matter of the aerial parts (leaves and stems) of three Abutilon (A.) species, A. pannosum (Forst.f) Schltdl., A. hybridum Hort. (Ex Siebert. & Voss), and A. hirtum (Lam.) Sweet (family Malvaceae) has been carried out for the first time. Methods: Gas-liquid chromatography coupled with flame ionization detector (GLC/FID) was used for analyzing and identifying the saponifiable and unsaponifiable compounds. Results: Saponification of lipoidal matter of the petroleum ether extracts of A. pannosum, A. hybridum, and A. hirtum revealed the presence of 23 compounds tentatively identified in the unsaponifiable matter of A. pannosum, 19 in A. hybridum, and 22 compounds in A. hirtum. Whereas n-heneicosane, β-sitosterol, n-tricosane were the most abundant compounds identified in the unsaponifiable matter of the aerial parts of A. pannosum, A. hybridum and A. hirtum, respectively. In the saponifiable fractions, a total of 14 compounds were specified for A. pannosum, 18 for A. hybridum and 19 compounds for A. hirtum. Palmitic acid was the major identified saturated fatty acid in the three Abutilon species accounting for 23.18% for A. pannosum, 23.97% for A. hybridum, and 19.23% for A. hirtum, while oleic acid represents the major unsaturated fatty acid in the three species (17.78, 34.44 and 22.13%, respectively). Conclusion: Lipoidal matter investigation by Gas-liquid chromatography coupled with flame ionization detector (GLC/FID) was used for the tentative identification of different bioactive lipoidal constituents as hydrocarbons, sterols, unsaturated and saturated fatty acids from A. pannosum, A. hybridum, and A. hirtum. The results showed that the three Abutilon species are worthy candidates for further pharmacological and phytochemical studies. The present study is the first report on the petroleum ether extracts of A. hybridum, A. hirtum plants and the first report on the aerial parts of A. pannosum.